Angelica (angelica archangelica)
Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Digestive
- 2 conditions
- Licensed photo
Overview
Angelica (Angelica archangelica) is a large, aromatic biennial herb growing up to about 6½ ft (2 m), with ridged hollow stems, bright green divided leaves, and greenish-white flowers arranged in umbrella-like clusters (umbels). It has a warm, tonic character and is often compared to dong quai (Chinese angelica) for its usefulness in supporting women’s health and circulation. Traditional sources note its warming action on the stomach, spleen, and intestines.
Traditional uses & properties
Aromatic & Digestive Tonic: Eases flatulent colic, indigestion, intestinal cramps, and can help with poor digestion. Decongestant & Warming: Promotes perspiration and can reduce fevers; supports recovery from colds, flu, and congestion by improving blood flow to the chest and extremities. Female Reproductive Support: Noted for helping regulate menses and balance hormones, though caution applies for certain conditions. External Application: Used for bruises, sprains, and joint or muscle pain. Anti-inflammatory: Root extracts contain lactones and coumarins with demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects.
Traditional preparations
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person.
Make a decoction and drink 2-4 ounces 3 times daily.
Safety & precautions
Do not use during pregnancy or while nursing. Avoid if you experience heavy menstrual bleeding. Do not confuse European angelica with Chinese Angelica (Angelica sinensis), as they have different strengths and applications.
Drug & food interactions
Interaction data is not available for this herb - talk to a pharmacist before combining it with any medication. A blank entry here means we have not documented interactions, not that none exist.
Habitat
Angelica is found in temperate areas of western Europe, Siberia, and the Himalayas, favoring damp soil and often growing near rivers or streams. The leaves and stems are typically collected in early summer, the seeds in late summer, and the roots in late autumn after the first year’s growth.
Traditionally used for
Each condition shows its first 2 remedies free. Premium opens the full remedy list for every condition - or come back for the free Condition of the Day.
Frequently asked questions
What is Angelica (angelica archangelica) traditionally used for?
Traditional sources describe Angelica (angelica archangelica) as follows: Aromatic & Digestive Tonic: Eases flatulent colic, indigestion, intestinal cramps, and can help with poor digestion. Decongestant & Warming: Promotes perspiration and can reduce fevers; supports recovery from colds, flu, and congestion by improving blood flow to the chest and extremities. Female Reproductive Support: Noted for helping regulate menses and balance hormones, though caution applies for certain conditions. External Application: Used for bruises, sprains, and joint or muscle pain. Anti-inflammatory: Root extracts contain lactones and coumarins with demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects.
How is Angelica (angelica archangelica) prepared?
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person. Indigestion: Make a decoction and drink 2-4 ounces 3 times daily.
What safety cautions apply to Angelica (angelica archangelica)?
Do not use during pregnancy or while nursing. Avoid if you experience heavy menstrual bleeding. Do not confuse European angelica with Chinese Angelica (Angelica sinensis), as they have different strengths and applications.
Related herbs
Chinese Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)Chinese rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) is a thick-rhizomed perennial, growing up to 10 ft (3 m) tall, with large, palmate leaves and small flowers. Known in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years, it has a paradoxical effect on the bowels: stimulating in large doses, yet gently astringent and constipating in small doses. The rhizome also aids digestion, helps counter inflammation, and has anti-ulcer and antibacterial actions.
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri)Bacopa, also known as Water Hyssop or Brahmi, is a creeping succulent perennial that can grow to about 20 inches. It features spatula-shaped fleshy leaves and pale blue or white flowers on slender stalks. Thriving in marshlands and along the edges of mangrove swamps in warmer temperate and tropical climates - especially southern Asia - it develops into dense mats on mudflats. This herb has been a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine for supporting cognitive function and treating various nervous system disorders, and it is increasingly recognized in Western herbalism for its brain-enhancing properties.
Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is an aromatic evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow up to about 65 ft (20 m). It features leathery, dark green, lance-shaped leaves, small yellow flowers, and shiny black berries. The plant is well known for its culinary use (“bay leaves”) as well as its medicinal history in ancient Greece and Rome.
Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)Bitter melon is an annual climbing vine reaching about 6.5 feet, characterized by deeply lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and distinctive orange-yellow fruit. Native to southern Asia and now common throughout tropical regions worldwide, it is harvested year-round. The plant's unripe fruit, ripe fruit, leaves, seeds, and seed oil all have medicinal applications, and it has been a traditional remedy for diabetes symptoms in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for centuries.
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)Black pepper is a perennial woody climbing vine growing to about 16 feet, with large oval leaves, spikes of small white flowers, and clusters of small round fruits that ripen from green to red. Native to southwestern India and now cultivated in tropical areas worldwide, the fruit is harvested from plants that are at least three years old. Different processing methods yield green, black, red, and white peppercorns, each with distinct flavors and uses. Cultivated as both a spice and medicine since ancient times, pepper was such a prized commodity in world trade that Attila the Hun reportedly demanded 3,000 pounds of it as ransom during his siege of Rome in 408 CE.
Boldo (Peumus boldus)Not for self-dosingBoldo is a strongly aromatic multi-branched evergreen shrub or tree growing to 20 feet. It has egg-shaped leathery leaves with a lemony scent, clusters of white or yellow bell-shaped flowers, and small yellow berries. Native to Chile and Peru, it has become naturalized in the Mediterranean region and the West Coast of North America, where it grows on dry sunny slopes and in mountain pastures in the Andes. It is widely cultivated, and its leaves are gathered throughout the year. Boldo is a valued remedy in Latin American herbal medicine and is used by the Araucanian people in Chile as a tonic.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)Calendula (Calendula officinalis), with its bright orange daisy-like flowers, is among the most versatile herbs in Western herbal medicine. Its petals contain antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and vulnerary properties, making it excellent for speeding tissue repair in wounds, burns, bruises, and various skin irritations. Calendula is also used internally for gastrointestinal inflammation (e.g., Crohn’s disease, colitis, gastritis).
Caraway (Carum carvi)Caraway is an aromatic annual herb growing to 2 feet with a ridged stem, feathery leaves, and umbels of white flowers in midsummer. Exploding capsules release two small narrow seeds. It grows wild in Europe, North Africa, and Asia, preferring sunny sites up to 6,600 feet above sea level. Cultivated in Europe, Russia, North Africa, and the United States, the seeds are harvested ripe in late summer. Caraway has been valued since ancient times for its digestive and respiratory benefits, and the seeds are commonly used in cooking.